‘I can do this!’ Erin’s journey to self-employment and a green cleaning business

After a few life changes—including becoming a mother—Erin LeMoel was curious about what the next phase of her work life could look like. Finding suitable work while balancing the pressures of motherhood led Erin to seek out employment options that provided more flexibility and shorter hours. Fortunately, to explore her options, she walked into the doors of WorkBC Vernon.

“I wanted to see what else was out there,” says Erin. “I’m so happy I reached out.”

After meeting with a career advisor and outlining Erin’s strong transferable skills and passion for helping others, as well as her family needs, Erin’s career advisor said, “What about self-employment?”

With strong attention to detail and a background in caring for seniors, Erin got the idea to start a cleaning business focusing on an older clientele, and began the Self-employment (SE) Program in 2022.

“I had a friend whose home needed a deep clean, and she let me do a really good whole house clean for her so I could see if I liked it, and once I was done her house, I thought, I can do this!”

Now all Erin had to do was learn how to give her cleaning business a successful start. Erin says in addition to building a business plan that acted as a roadmap and proved the potential of her idea, the SE program also helped her strengthen skills that were critical for her—from organization and self-motivation to problem-solving and accounting.

“Once I saw the cashflow and learned how I could budget, it made sense. I needed to see it all laid out to learn what I needed to do to make it work.”

Erin completed the program in 2023 with two clients and an eye-catching sandwich board that she would display on the lawn for her new business, Green Cleaning Solutions. Her target audience is retired, older homeowners who appreciate extra help keeping their spaces sparkling. Soon, Erin’s phone was ringing and her schedule was filling up. She was back to work!

“The problem-solving and quick-thinking we’d practiced was a big help. With cleaning, you get a lot of requests about adding things or changing schedules, and I was able to handle those confidently to explain, ‘OK, that will take this much more time and cost this much.’ I was already clear on the value of my work.”

These days, Erin’s weeks are full, and she’s hoping to add staff so she can spend more time with her young son. Turns out her attention to detail and her personable nature make her an excellent ‘cleaning lady.’

“They love the clean, but what’s almost more important is that they’re comfortable with me,” says Erin, who worked as a care aide before the birth of her son. “I think that comfort piece goes a long way, and I don’t mind at all if they’re at home while I’m cleaning.”

For her, the work is also rewarding, and her efforts are visible:

“It’s gratifying to look back in each room as you’re leaving, and think, this looks great.”

For Erin, it’s doubly satisfying to know she’s using eco-friendly yet effective products that are safe for both people and pets.

“I love my products,” she says, adding there are some scenarios where she has to bring out “the big guns.”

Today, nearly two years after launching Green Cleaning Solutions, Erin takes stock of all that she learned in the SE program and put into practice. “It really came together and made everything worth it for me.”

Are you interested in exploring self-employment? Visit WorkBC Vernon today to find out how we can support your next career journey.